City of Binghamton Engineer Philip Krey resigned Friday morning to accept the position of superintendent of highways in Cortland County.

According to Mayor Richard David, Krey turned in a letter of resignation with three weeks notice. David said the city will use Krey’s remaining time to put the various infrastructure projects he was overseeing in order.

“Within the last few days he let me know he had multiple opportunities,” David said.

The Cortland County Legislature appointed Krey to the highway superintendent position during its meeting Thursday night. The position has an annual salary of $93,766; the city engineer position had a $88,831 annual salary.

Reached by phone Friday night at his home in Conklin, Krey said the Cortland job was a better opportunity.

“I felt my services would be better used in a different setting,” Krey said.

David said Public Works Commissioner Gary Holmes, who previously served as the city engineer for Binghamton, would be able to play a role in the interim while a replacement is sought.

Krey took over the Binghamton position under a swirl of controversy after he was extended for a six-year term beginning Jan. 1 of this year by then-Mayor Matthew T. Ryan. At that time, David contended Krey was improperly awarded the position and considered taking legal action.

David said the city has already begun the process of advertising for candidates for the position. The ideal candidate will have experience managing multi-million dollar, publicly-funded projects and working with private contractors, he said.

If need be, the city will seek candidates from outside the city to fill the technical position, David said.

“I would imagine there’s only a handful of people that can do it,” David said.